Fix for the new screw on power cord

[Kountrykamper]

Originally Posted by thoer

Then that is essentially the same as the new one.... the electrical connection twists to lock and the threaded ring secures it.

They are different. I have had both. The new ring screws on the fine threads. This replacement ring converts it to the old style twist lock that is only a 1/8 turn instead of having to thread the ring on.

[gbaglo]

There is a simple solution. Get the cord that is permanently attached and feeds into a hole in the trailer.

[Kountrykamper]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

There is a simple solution. Get the cord that is permanently attached and feeds into a hole in the trailer.

Nah, makes a mess and we would not have anything to complain about.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Kountrykamper

I think the black ring is a twist lock. That is a Marinco end on your cord.

I stand corrected. But I still don't have any problem with it so something else has changed with whatever ETI is providing now.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

There is a simple solution. Get the cord that is permanently attached and feeds into a hole in the trailer.

I was gonna do that again, as it worked fine on our 17B. Leon convinced me to get the detachable, so if mine works poorly I think he should buy me those new rings!!

[Kountrykamper]

Originally Posted by KarenH

I stand corrected. But I still don't have any problem with it so something else has changed with whatever ETI is providing now.

Yes it has changed. This ring changes it back to what you have.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Kountrykamper

Yes it has changed. This ring changes it back to what you have.

Thank you!

Slow learner here...

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I was just going to offer Reace a challenge and see if he had a trick to get it.

Reace like's Rye... just sayin'

[CoolCampingKid]

I have been cussing that dang fine threaded ring every time I have put that thing on. Now this group has solved yet another issue, thank you. Now off to spend more money on amazon! Bill

[Jimrules]

Originally Posted by KarenH

Okay, that first picture that I posted was directly from ETI's website and is their picture of the removable power cord. The picture below is my power cord from 2013. They look the same to me. The yellow part is a quick twist lock and the black ring is threaded.

Karen does your threaded connector on the trailer have slots for the quick twist connector or just threads? I'd be interested to see a picture of it.

I've only plugged in the connector 15 or so times and it's darn difficult for me to get it started right. In fact I gave up trying most times.

My working theory is that the slots cut in the male threads for the twist lock collar are actually the problem. It seems like the first starting thread keeps catching in a false starting thread created by one of the slots for the twist lock.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Jimrules

Karen does your threaded connector on the trailer have slots for the quick twist connector or just threads? I'd be interested to see a picture of it. Attachment 24113

See Posts #24, #26 and #27. I finally have it all straight now.

[Jimrules]

Originally Posted by KarenH

See Posts #24, #26 and #27. I finally have it all straight now.

Karen, I'm glad you get it but I'm still a little confused.
Is the black ring on your cable a thread or a twist lock?

[KarenH]

It's a twist lock. I was going on my rememberer when I should have gone out and looked as the trailer is here at home for the moment.

[ReagentGrade]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I was just going to offer Reace a challenge and see if he had a trick to get it.

Jim - do it! Make Reace drink the soup!

(When I was in the Army I had a cook who didn't taste what he cooked. One day the captain had to eat some of his soup. He called out, "Who cooked this soup?". When the cook came out, he said, "Get a bowl and eat it!" The cook could not finish the bowl. We didn't have that problem again.)

I'm was a human factors guy - "easy to use" is my holy grail.

IMO it's always a good thing for a builder / manufacturer / coder to personally test usability on a constant basis.

The quick connect design engineer should have spent 30 minutes connecting and disconnecting it. The manufacturer should have spent some time making sure they were making an easy to use product. And yes, Reace should have assigned someone to spend 30 minutes trying it out before he chose this part.

This topic comes up regularly!

It's hard for me to understand why anyone would build (or continue to build) the threaded lock ring when the bayonet version works so well. The bayonet ring can't be significantly more expensive.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by ReagentGrade

It's hard for me to understand why anyone would build (or continue to build) the threaded lock ring when the bayonet version works so well. The bayonet ring can't be significantly more expensive.

If your cord has a threaded ring, you need the inlet to have threads, and those threads don't interfere with bayonet operation. That's the reason to continue to put threads on the inlets.

If your inlet has only threads (no bayonet slots), then you need the cord end to have a threaded ring... and that ring works pretty well because the threads are not messed up by slots. That's a reason to keep the threaded ring available. Marinco's manual for their cordsets includes this:

All Marinco® PowerCord cordsets come with a threaded sealing ring for use
with threaded inlets. Marinco®’s exclusive Easy Lock™ connection ring is also available.

... so they take the approach of making the threaded ring standard so it works for everyone, and offering the Easy Lock ring (bundled with some cordsets and separately) as well.

Why choose a threaded ring for a new installation? I don't know, although it's more secure once attached. I doubt it's for cost, since both are just moulded so they should cost the same to make. The two sealing rings from Marinco ("100R" for threaded and "100EL" for bayonet or "Easy Lock") are exactly the same price at the first retail supplier where I found both (West Marine).

[JStelly]

Thank you for suggesting this fix! I ordered it within five minutes of seeing the first post and received yesterday and installed it in less than a minute. It's a great find and will make my life so much easier when plugging in the power cord. Now off to Lost Maples SRA, Texas for the week. Hope we have mild temps and no rain. [emoji4]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by JStelly

... Now off to Lost Maples SRA, Texas for the week. Hope we have mild temps and no rain.

Lost Maples is one of our favorite local areas John. Have you climbed the "staircase" to the top and hiked the entire loop yet? It's a bit of a climb, but we'll worth it, especially in the fall.

[ReagentGrade]

Oops! I don't know how I accidentally posted.

[JStelly]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Lost Maples is one of our favorite local areas John. Have you climbed the "staircase" to the top and hiked the entire loop yet? It's a bit of a climb, but we'll worth it, especially in the fall.

It's on our list! Been to the Rio Frio many times but this is our first trip to Lost Maples. Looking forward to it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[StarvingHyena]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I have spent at least 15 minutes over a couple tries to get my threads mated, but just could not get it. If I did have it right, I feared wrecking threads if I turned too hard. I have put together many 10's of thousands of threaded connections before, but just could not get this one. Fortunately the cord end twists to lock too, so it is somewhat secure. I was just going to offer Reace a challenge and see if he had a trick to get it.

Nonetheless, I did order the replacement ring, it is going to be so much less hassle.

I think the Reace Challenge should be at the Rally. I'll wager 5 Bennett 5.0TA Inspection and Tour tickets that Reace cannot do a 30 second fine thread hook up. :-)

Wish I could be at the Rally this year ..... Escape Owners: Fire up your video cameras!

Tom